While nothing will recapture the optimism of 2008, when hope and change were on the minds of many Washingtonians, one thing will soon be revived from those heady times: Safari DC is reopening in the same space at 4306 Georgia Ave. NW. Sort of.

Details are still sketchy at this time since manager Mame Wendmage told All We Can Eat that the owners of the forthcoming Safari D.C. Lounge and Restaurant are out of town. But Wendmage says the business is family owned, the same people behind the Fab Lounge on Connecticut Avenue NW. She didn’t know their full names.

Wendmage did say, however, that the new Safari D.C. will not restrict itself to Kenyan cuisine. Instead it will be more pan-African, with an emphasis on West and East African dishes.

The new Safari D.C. menu leans heavily on Ethio­pian dishes, by the look of the menu posted on the windows. (Tim Carman/The Washington Post)

A menu definitely leans Ethio­pian with dishes such as beef tibs, alicha fitfit and doro wat. But Wendmage says the final menu may include some American dishes such as burgers and steaks.

The lounge is still waiting on its full liquor license, but the manager expects Safari D.C. to open Dec. 1. Regulars of the old place should recognize the new one right away.